INCH by INCH

Posted by Maria Nieto

Book Title:  Inch by Inch

Author & Illustrator:   Leo Lionni

Recommended Grade Level: Grades K - 2^nd grade

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.2
Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.1
Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.

Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE. MP.2

Reason quantitatively and abstractly. Students describe and compare lengths using longer than and shorter than and numerically represent relationships among and between lengths. This takes place in the context of comparing sets within data collection as well as comparing objects with different length units. For example, students compare the number of peers who enjoy one hobby with the number of peers who enjoy a different hobby. Students also compare the length of one object, in centimeter cubes, with the length of a second object.

Rating:  ***** This is an excellent book as an introduction to measuring in inches. This book can be use from kindergarten to 2^nd grade making appropriate modifications.

Summary

            Inch by Inch is about an inchworm green as an emerald that has the ability to measure things.  A robin is going to eat him, but the inchworm tells the robin, “Don’t eat me! I’m useful.”  After he measures the robin’s tale, the inchworm is busy measuring the different parts of birds like flamingo’s neck or a toucan’s beak, etc. One morning the nightingale demands that the inchworm measure her song, or “I’ll eat you for breakfast.”  The inchworm is faced with a dilemma.  How to measure a song? The nightingale sang and the inchworm measured away until it was out of sight.

Classroom ideas

            We can ask the students how big an inch is.  Read the story “Inch by Inch.” by Leo Lionni. Be sure to use a ruler to show how big an inch is and show it on the smart board too.  The students can come up with ideas of things that could be measured in inches.  Give the students an inch ruler to measure items and connect with physical units and have them record it on a paper. After they record it on paper, the students will be put in groups of two so they can discuss their answers. The students will then have a class discussion on what is too big to measure in inches.